Objective

Evaluate a comprehensive diabetes education intervention in relation to the level of knowledge in patients with diabetes.

Method

Quasi-experimental design with 17 patients diagnosed with diabetes who reported being illiterate or have basic education and belong to the Villa Aquiles Serdan community, in Pachuca, Hidalgo. Between July and December 2013, a survey to identify sex, age, educational level, occupation, marital status and disease evolution was conducted. In addition, glycated hemoglobin measurement was requested. Diabetes knowledge was measured with the Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire (pre-test and post-test). Descriptive statistics and comparison of means were performed using Student's t-test.

Results

A percentage of 64.7 were women; 41.2% of whom were housewives; regarding level of education, 17.6% were illiterate; the mean age was 52.6 ± 5.8 years (range 39-72). The average time having diabetes was 112.00 ± 59.1 months (range 1-180). A 88.2% had not previously taken a course. A 58.8% did not belong to a mutual-help group; for the rest, the average time within the mutual-help group was 156 months (range 6-156). The intervention showed statistically significant differences in the knowledge level in 70.8% of the items: basic information (P < 0.000), on the control (P < 0.000) and complications (P < 0.000), and the overall level (P < 0.000). Regarding the levels of glycated hemoglobin, the mean difference was 1.01 mg/dL ± 1.77 mg/dL (P = 0.053)

Conclusions

The intervention showed significant changes in the levels of knowledge in respect of basic information, control and complications. As well as in the overall knowledge average. Glycated hemoglobin showed no statistically significant differences. It is important to continue comprehensive educational interventions that include nutritional, psychological, medical, and pharmacological aspects, and have culturally competent strategies.